Railway hose-coupling



No Model.)

S. WALTERS. RAILWAY HOSE 00112111111.

. Patented July 27, 1897.

INVENTOR.

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UNITED STATES s PATE T trickle,

SAMUEL WALTERS, OF XVARREN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY HOSE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,111, dated July2'7, 1897.

Application filed September 21, 1896. fierial No. 606,455. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WALTERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Warren, in the county of Warrenand State of Pennsylvania,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railway Hose-Oouplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in hose-couplersfor railwaytrain service, and has for its object to improve upon theconstruction in general of such devices, but more particularly toprovide therefor an automatic valve by means of which the seat of thecoupler will be closed against access of dirt, snow, water, and otherforeign substances which tend not only to injure the face of the seat,but also clog the interior of the coupler to such an extent as toprevent its immediate use when occasion requires, thus necessitating aconsiderable loss of time in cleaning the coupler before it can besecured to a similar coupler in connecting up the cars of a train, andwill keep dust from getting in triple valve and air-cylinder.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

' In order that those skilled in the art to,

which this invention. appertains may understand how to make and use thesame, its con struction and operation will now be described in detail,referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section oftwo couplers secured together, illustrating the position of the valvewhen the couplers are in this relative position; Fig. 2, a perspectiveof a coupler in the position assumed when not in use, showing the valvein position to close the opening in the coupler and protect the seatthereof; Fig. 3, a cross-section taken through the coupler at the centerof the opening therein when the valve is in position to close the same,and Fig. i a detail perspective of the valve.

In carrying out my invention: the coupler is cast in a single piece andso cored as to form a cavity therein, from which leads the opening A andthe shank B, the latter being adapted for connection with the flexiblehose of the train-pipe.

The body 0 of the coupler has formed thereon the flanges D, which serveto guide the valve .E by the latter having the hooked ends F adapted toembrace these flanges and slide to and fro thereon.

As is usual, the opening A is provided with a rubber bushing Gr, whichserves as a packing-rin g for making an air or steam tight joint betweentwo couplers when secured together, and this bushing projects slightlyabove the upper face of the coupler, necessitating the slight elevationof the central portion of the valve E, which is accomplished by theformation upon the under side thereof of a rib H, as clearly shownin 4.

The overhanging lug I is of a greater length than usual with theconstruction of couplings now in use, which also lengthens the face ofthe coupler, and the object of this in my improvement is to providespace in which the valve E may remain when two couplers are attachedtogether, so that, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve of each coupler in nowise interferes with the action of the couplers when in use, yet when acoupler is out of use and drops to a vertical position by reason of theflexibility of the hose to which it is secured the valve by its Weightwill automatically assume the position shown in Fig. 2, when it willcompletely close the opening in the coupler and prevent the accumulationof snow, ice, water, or dirt within the coupler or upon the facethereof, in order that when said coupler is again needed for use nopreparatory cleaning will be necessary, as the valve may be slid backwithin the space beneath the overhanging lug when the valve is elevatedby the operator, leaving the coupler in perfect condition to be attachedto another.

The valve is prevented from sliding off the coupler when the latter ishanging downward by the stop-shoulder J, and in assembling the ends ofthe valve may be first bent at right angles to the body thereof andafterward turned inward beneath the flanges of the coupler. 1

The overhanging lug is provided with a curved bead K, and the nose L isalso provided-with a curved bead M, so that when ICO two couplers arebrought together this lastnamed bead will enter into engagement with thefirst-named bead, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thereby securing thecouplers face to face, and these beads are slightly inclined in thedirection of their length, so as to have a cam action upon each other,which will draw their faces inward during the coupling movement andforce the bushings or packing rings tightly against each other, thusmaking an air-tight joint.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulis- 1. A coupler for train service, consisting of a hollow body, a shankformed therewith and adapted to be attached to a flexible hose, anopening leading from the interior of the body at right angles to thelength of the coupler, flanges formed upon the body, and a valvearranged to slide upon said flanges and adapted to automatically closethe opening, as specifled.

2. In a device of the character described, a coupler, flanges formedthereon and a sliding valve engaging the flanges, as and for the purposedescribed.

3. A coupler of the character deseribed,consisting of a hollow body, anopening leading therefrom at right angles thereto, an overhanging lug soarranged as to provide a space therebetween and the face of the body,flanges formed upon said body, and a valve fitted to slide upon saidflanges and adapted to close the opening in the coupler when the latteris swung downward, as specified.

I. The herein-described combination of a hollow body 0, a shank formedtherewith, an

opening leading therefrom at right angles thereto, flanges formed withthe body, a valve E having hooked ends for engagement with the flanges,an overhanging lug I having a curved bead formed thereon, and a nose Lalso having a curved bead formed thereon, the two heads adapted toengage corresponding beads formed upon asimilar coupling,substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, a coupler, flanges 1) formedthereon, a valve E having hooked ends F adapted to embrace and slide onthe flanges, as and for the purpose described.

6. In a device of the character described, a coupler, a bushing ringsecured thereon,

flanges formed on said coupler, a valve slidable on the flanges having araised portion to fit over the bushing, as and for the purposedescribed.

7. In a device of the character described, a coupler, a bushing-ring Gset therein, flanges 1) formed on the sides of the coupler, a valve Ehaving a central raised portion and a rib II to fit the bushing-ring,hooked ends F formed on the valve to engage and slide on the flanges andshoulders J at the end of the flange to limit the movement of the valve,as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afflxed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

S AMUEL WALTERS.

\Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMsON, WM. KULow.

